Rising With The Wind (我要逆风去) has been on my radar for more than a month. However, with the number of good titles being released towards the end of the year, I have been putting it on the back burner. Finally, I decided to watch it after completing Story Of Kunning Palace to bring me back to modern dramas. In fact, I wouldn’t have regretted it one bit if I had prioritized this over other dramas because the story does worth the time to me. You can check out my Rising With The Wind review below for more details.
My rating: 8/10
Episodes: 40
Type: Business, Romance
Aired: October 2023
Images Credit: iQIYI Facebook
The Cast Of Rising With The Wind
- Simon Gong Jun as Xu Si
- Elaine Zhong Chu Xi as Jiang Hu
- Wu Xuan Yi as Xiang Zhao Yang
- Gao Zhi Ting as Yang Jian
- Miles Wei Zhe Ming as Gao Yi
- Wen Zheng Rong as Yue Shan
- Morni Chang Chen Guang as Pei Zhi Yuan
- He Feng Tian as Wu Guang Lei
- Xiao Song Yuan as Du Wei Ye
- Heidi Wang Ji as Fang Mo Ping
- Dong Xuan as Hong Die
- Rong Rong as Zhou Su Qing
- Ye Qing as Song Zhi
- Chen Yi Ge as Zhang Wen Shan
Main Characters
Xu Si
Xu Si is a finance and investment specialist and a talented dealmaker when it comes to mergers and acquisitions. He works for Bao Xing Investment and is a rising star in the industry. Xu Si is a smart, rational, and straightforward man who would tell it like it is. He believes only the fittest should survive and there is no room for sentimentality in the business world.
Jiang Hu
Jiang Hu is the daughter of Jiang Qi Sheng who owns Free Unicorn which is a clothing and shoes manufacturing group of companies. Being a rich kid, she is willful, confident, and full of pride. She is helping her father to run one of Free Unicorn’s subsidiaries called Teng Yue which produces shoes. Jiang Hu shares a close bond with her father who dotes on her and keeps her sheltered. Her mother died when she was young.
Xiang Zhao Yang
Zhao Yang is an artistic designer who works in a shoes company called Aneda. She is a talented artist who also has a following on social media. Her interest lies in her art rather than being a full-time influencer. Zhao Yang and Jiang Hu are ex-schoolmates together with Gao Yi.
Yang Jian
Yang Jian is Zhao Yang’s brother but they are not related by blood. They grew up together when Zhao Yang’s mother married Yang Jian’s father. Yang Jian is a small time trader who also runs a restaurant with a group of friends. He is a principled and softhearted man. He also has secret feelings for Zhao Yang.
Supporting Characters
Gao Yi
Gao Yi is a senior executive of Lidu Department Store. Before that, he was an investment executive with Tian Yi Investment. Gao Yi and Jiang Hu grew up together as their fathers were comrades. He was subsequently adopted by Jiang Hu’s father when something happened to his own father. Hence, he is someone that Jiang Hu trusts wholeheartedly.
Yue Shan
Yue Shan is Free Unicorn’s Chief Financial Officer and Jiang Hu’s father’s most trusted subordinate. However, Jiang Hu doesn’t like her as she sees Yue Shan as trying to take her mother’s place.
Pei Zhi Yuan
Pei Zhi Yuan is Jiang Hu’s maternal uncle. He is also the Factory Director of Teng Yue. He cares about Jiang Hu but is also a pessimistic person who thinks his niece is better off closing down Teng Yue.
Wu Guang Lei & Du Wei Ye
Wu Guang Lei and Du Wei Ye is Xu Si’s assistant and boss respectively.
Fang Mo Ping & Hong Die
Fang Mo Ping is Xu Si’s mother while Hong Die is his aunt. His family runs a factory which his mother refuses to give up despite making losses because of sentimental reasons. Hence, they are always arguing over it with Hong Die being the mediator as she is close to both.
Zhou Su Qing
Su Qing is Zhao Yang’s mother. She is always thinking of making fast money on the stock exchange but frequently ends up borrowing to cover losses which her daughter has to help her to repay. Hence, mother and daughter do not have a close relationship.
Song Zhi
Song Zhi is Xu Si’s ex and a partner of TT Media which is a livestreaming company. She doesn’t like his directness which she sees as harsh but his company is one of TT Media’s investors.
Zhang Wen Shan
Zhang Wen Shan is Jiang Hu’s family friend. His family is the distributor for Free Unicorn’s goods and their association goes way back. Zhang Wen Shan is an opportunistic man who will disregard friendship for commercial benefits.
Synopsis
Jiang Hu has been living a luxurious and sheltered life until her father’s sudden death. He was swindled by someone close to the family to invest in a financial platform which then goes bust. Overnight, her father’s company collapses under a mountain of debt. The people Jiang Hu though she could trust end up abandoning and taking advantage of her misfortune to swallow up what is left of her father’s company.
However, Jiang Hu refuses to give up on something that her family has spent their life building. She uses all her money to buy Teng Yue which is an old shoe brand that has seen better days. Teng Yue has been in her family for decades and was kept for sentimental reasons rather than profit. The land that Teng Yue sits on is eyed by Xu Si, an investment executive. When the land is auctioned off, Xu Si buys it on behalf of a client. Thus, Jiang Hu has to spend her time to convince him to lease the land to her so that she can continue Teng Yue’s operations.
Xu Si doesn’t believe that Teng Yue can survive initially but becomes impressed with Jiang Hu’s determination and resourcefulness. He then wants a share in Teng Yue in exchange for the lease. He helps her to revive Teng Yue and subsequently falls in love with her. With the odds stack against her, Jiang Hu slowly overcomes all the obstacles that come her way. Just when everything seems to get better, Jiang Hu discovers the perils of mixing business and love.
Rising With The Wind Ending & Recap (Spoilers Alert!)
Rising With The Wind has a happy ending. Xu Si realizes his mistake and works to find a new and better acquisition target for his client so that they can give up acquiring Teng Yue. He also arranges to buy back Teng Yue’s 51% equity from his boss before quitting Bao Xing in Episode 39. By then, Xu Si has shifted Teng Yue to a new industrial park and modernized the company. He then asks his assistant to give Jiang Hu the equity transfer agreement whereby he would return all of Teng Yue’s shares to her before leaving the country.
Jiang Hu is shocked by what Xu Si had done for her. She decides to return to manage Teng Yue together with Cloud Footwear, an old shoe manufacturer which she had joined after leaving Teng Yue. But she didn’t accept the equity transfer. Jiang Hu and Xu Si reconcile in the last minute of Episode 40 when they meet again. This time, she chooses Xu Si over Teng Yue when he asks her again about her choice.
When Did The Leads Get Together?
Jiang Hu mistaken Xu Si for Gao Yi and kisses him while drunk in Episode 14. But she can’t recall it the next day. They start getting close and ambiguous in Episode 15. In Episode 17, Xu Si kisses a drunk Jiang Hu. When she is curious if anything happened between them while she was drunk, Xu Si tells her to think properly if she really minds if something had indeed happened.
Xu Si becomes direct with Jiang Hu and openly says that he is pursuing her in Episode 19. When she refuses his kiss the first time, she tells him that she wouldn’t know how to face him thereafter if she allows him to do so. Jiang Hu is wary that Xu Si is her company’s investor of which the end game is uncertain. The second time he kisses her, he asks her to consider their relationship but she still rejects him in Episode 20 by giving the excuse that he is a boss to her.
Xu Si refuses to give up and makes Jiang Hu stay with him when she falls sick in Episode 25. Jiang Hu becomes tempted and drawn to him with his concern for her. She is open to his kiss this time and they start dating in Episode 26. Her lingering feelings for Xu Si pushes her towards a relationship with him although it is not the perfect love that she has envisioned. They consummate their relationship in Episode 32.
Is There A Breakup?
Yes, Jiang Hu officially breaks up with Xu Si in Episode 35. She discovers that Xu Si has been making plans to sell Bao Xing’s 51% share in Teng Yue to a big shoe company, Aneda, in Episode 33. She exposes his plans and accuses him of deceiving her and keeping her in the dark about the deal. Jiang Hu simply feels betrayed and used for his dealmaking.
On Xu Si’s part, he failed to tell Jiang Hu earlier about the deal and underestimated her attachment and dreams for Teng Yue. He thought selling Teng Yue to Aneda is a win-win situation as it will make life easier for Jiang Hu as the company can then rely on Aneda’s support. But Jiang Hu chooses to leave him and Teng Yue instead. She tells Xu Si that their ending is predetermined as they both want different things. She reiterates her stance in Episode 38 when she says that she will choose Teng Yue over him if given a choice.
Is There Any Love Triangle?
There is no love triangle but one-sided feelings from young.
Jiang Hu has secret feelings for Gao Yi in the past as they grew up together. But she hates him after he conned her father and she lost everything as a result. She rejects Gao Yi’s help in Episode 14 and wants nothing to do with him anymore although the betrayal and letting go is hard. When Jiang Hu notices Gao Yi in the hospital in Episode 27, she follows him and sees him taking care of his girlfriend, Hai Lan. Jiang Hu visits Hai Lan who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer in Episode 30 to send her wishes for their upcoming marriage. Jiang Hu already knew Hai Lan’s existence from way back but naively thought only she is the perfect partner for Gao Yi then.
Zhao Yang also has feelings for Gao Yi for a long time as they were schoolmates and she thought he was the one who saved her from drowning years ago. She still harbors hopes of being with him even after so many years when they have a chance to meet for work purposes. But she is taken aback when Gao Yi extends her his wedding invitation in Episode 30.
Zhao Yang then learns from Jiang Hu that Gao Yi and Hai Lan have always been sweethearts. They were childhood friends and Hai Lan was there for him during his most difficult moments. So, both Jiang Hu and Zhao Yang have never meant anything special to Gao Yi. It is their own one-sided delusions that they have a chance with him.
Gao Yi marries Hai Lan in Episode 31. Zhao Yang turns up for the wedding while Jiang Hu watches from as they completely put the past behind them.
Jiang Hu & Zhao Yang’s Friendship
Jiang Hu apologizes to Zhao Yang for her past willfulness in Episode 17. She wants to put the past behind them and hopes Zhao Yang can join Teng Yue as their shoes designer. Jiang Hu then makes a lot of effort to get Zhao Yang out of her contract with a media company and previous employer as she knows Zhao Yang is not happy with what she is doing. Zhao Yang’s dream is to be a designer rather than an influencer. Jiang Hu took a gamble and Zhao Yang finally decides to join Teng Yue in Episode 21.
Both women were schoolmates and rivals back then. They even fell in love with the same guy, Gao Yi. Although they don’t get along well together, they begin to understand each other better as they work towards a common goal of reviving Teng Yue. The burgeoning friendship stalls after Jiang Hu discovers about the plan to sell Teng Yue to Aneda, and Zhao Yang is one the people who hid the information from her in Episode 33. Zhao Yang was also offered work by Aneda.
However, Zhao Yang decides to remain at Teng Yue to fulfill her promise to Jiang Hu to revive the brand since she is one of the parties who have hurt her. They resume their friendship in Episode 40 after Jiang Hu returns to Teng Yue.
Second Couple
Yang Jian has loved Zhao Yang for years but hides his feelings from her. Jiang Hu could see that Yang Jian has romantic feelings for Zhao Yang and advises him to be straightforward in his pursuit in Episode 21. But Yang Jian explains to Jiang Hu in Episode 22 that Zhao Yang wouldn’t love him in that way because she hated his father who was an alcoholic and abuser.
When Gao Yi is going to marry Hai Lan, Zhao Yang suddenly decides to marry Yang Jian on the rebound in Episode 30. She actually knows Yang Jian has loved her for many years. She now feels it might be better to be with someone who understands her. Yang Jian agrees to the marriage since Zhao Yang wants it but he will try his best to make her accept him. He proposes to her in Episode 32 which she accepts.
However, they have a major disagreement in Episode 34 over Aneda’s acquisition of Teng Yue. Yang Jian thinks Zhao Yang and everyone who support the acquisition without telling Jiang Hu is selfish. He feels he couldn’t understand her anymore and asks for a divorce in Episode 35. In Episode 37, Zhao Yang learns from Gao Yi that the person who had saved her from drowning years earlier was not him but Yang Jian. Zhao Yang then reconciles with Yang Jian and they consummate their relationship in Episode 38.
She also tells him in Episode 39 that she had denied her feelings for him because she hated his father. This conflict gave her a good reason to make Gao Yi as her new light as she thought he was her savior. But when she found out the truth, the excuse that she had created to cope with her inner conflict is gone.
What Happened To Gao Yi’s Father?
Gao Yi’s father, Gao Zheng and Jiang Hu’s father, Jiang Qi Sheng were good friends and work mates. Gao Zheng suffers from dementia and depression. He keeps blaming Jiang Qi Sheng in his mumblings that the latter was involved in illicit trading in their business operations. So, Jiang Qi Sheng had played out Gao Zheng who took the blame for the illicit trading and went to jail for it. His mother also died shortly after.
However, Yue Shan tells Jiang Hu in Episode 12 that it was Gao Zheng that embezzled funds from the company. In Episode 30, Jiang Hu then finds out from Gao Yi’s long-time girlfriend that Gao Zheng is still alive contrary to what she was told when her father adopted Gao Yi into the family. So, she asks Yue Shan to investigate the matter for her.
Jiang Hu goes to visit Gao Zheng and learns the truth in Episode 34. It was her father who was in the wrong and begged Gao Zheng to cover up for him. In return, he will take care of Gao Zheng’s family. When Jiang Hu meets Gao Yi again, they have a chat. She finally understands why Gao Yi always has conflicting feelings towards her. Gao Yi also didn’t mean to bankrupt Free Unicorn but merely wanted to teach Jiang Qi Sheng a lesson. But things got out of control when news was leaked by Xu Si’s boss for profits. Jiang Hu and Gao Yi remain friends after she learned the truth about her father’s deeds.
Rising With The Wind Review – It’s Mainly Business
Rising With The Wind reminds me of Wild Bloom as both have a business focussed theme and a strong female lead. It is about building a business with the female lead having to overcome one problem after another. So, if you go into this expecting a sweet romance to be the main dish, you might just find this slow-moving and boring. Business matters take precedence here, not romance.
However, the romance is an integral part of the story because it is connected to the business side of things through both the protagonists’ work. Work brings them together but it is also the fuse that could blow them apart due to their different roles in the grand scheme of things. The guy is an investment executive whose professionalism demands maximizing short term returns on the funds invested in a company. The girl is a business owner whose dream is to revive and build a sustainable brandname for the long term. Because she needs his investment to avoid business closure, their romance is very naturally woven into the plot. Thus, the love part doesn’t feel forced when things start to turn serious between them and when the conflict arises.
I would say the romance takes up about 30% to 40% of the story. This is certainly not another Only For Love whereby the romance is the main selling point. Therefore, whether you will like Rising With The Wind really depends on your interest in watching business rather than romance dramas.
Good Plot
Personally, I like the story in the drama. The plot is well-executed and I don’t find it boring. It could be a bit detailed for some as each problem arises for the female lead and she has to solve it to keep the factory going. So, a lot of time is spent to settle these obstacles that range from employee sabotage to getting a suitable artistic designer onboard. This is why some viewers will find Rising With The Wind dull and long-winded.
However, part of the pleasure is in watching how she overcomes the obstacles thrown her way and the hardship she has to endure to make the business regain its footing. The other is, of course, the romance, but with an anticipation of a conflict ahead. This will make you sit through each episode to see that moment and how their relationship will turn out in the end.
The whole drama has consistent pacing to me with few filler scenes. There are also a few minor twists that add a bit of unpredictability to the overall story. Things will become clearer in the last quarter of the drama that ties back to the beginning about the female lead’s father. Hence, the story is well-told with a strong foundation to it.
Strong Female Lead
For me, the female protagonist simply stole the show compared to the other characters. She is not one you will like instantly when the drama begins but it sets the stage for character growth when things turn sour for her. Her character is very well-written with resilience, determination, and resourcefulness being her strengths just like the female lead in The Ideal City. She also has her pride which I think makes her easier to root for.
However, the male protagonist is not as straightforward. He is not a bad guy but some may view him as being a little manipulative. Yes, he makes it clear to the girl that he is pursuing her and she is clearly tempted. But he also takes advantage of situations to press forward despite her wariness of starting a relationship with him. And her initial hesitance is indeed proven right later on. Thus, it is not surprising that some will ship her with the second male lead instead. The latter is not as sophisticated and highly educated but is a loyal, honest, and supportive friend and business partner all the way.
Acting & Chemistry
I like both the leads’ acting in Rising With The Wind. Simon Gong needs no introduction after his role in Word Of Honor which was such a hit. In Rising With The Wind, he is suave and urbane. He looks smart and carries the role of an investment executive with the right amount of sophistication and confidence. Those traits are visible through his body language and facial expressions.
Elaine Zhong is also great in her role as a fallen heiress. She has a few crying scenes which she did well with nothing over the top in terms of acting. She gives the character a kind of toughness as well as vulnerability that it is easy to relate to her. Her acting simply evokes a certain level of sympathy for the character.
Both Simon Gong and Elaine Zhong are able to get the chemistry going and it is enjoyable to watch their banter and interactions. They can be flirty, serious, and loving and you won’t feel any of it is forced.
My Verdict – Solid Story
Rising With The Wind is a pretty compelling story for me. If you want something with more substance than pure romance, this will fit that category. The business aspect is the main driver as the female lead overcomes challenges to build her business. It can be slow if you come looking for romance and find that majority of the screen time is about her encountering and solving business problems. But it can also be riveting if you can relate to her predicament and her resilience to keep a century old brand going as consumer demand changes.
Furthermore, there is character growth involved as she falls from being a sheltered rich heiress to someone who has sell off all her luxurious possessions to those she hates. That downgrade and betrayal by those she trusts will make you feel for her. Hence, the story will become more immersive for the viewers. However, the male lead’s actions towards the last quarter may be annoying though and that could possibly make you lose the enthusiasm for the romance.
Anyway, for this Rising With The Wind review, I would rate it 8/10. The screenwriter is able to flesh out the essence of the story and not just rely on the romance to make it sell. Watch it for the plot as it is an excellent story that is well-executed. That is, if you like business dramas. Otherwise, it might bore you with one problem after another confronting the female protagonist that never seems to end.
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